How Scoot Henderson could impact the Indiana Pacers if they have the chance to draft him

Scoot Henderson is one of the top prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. The G League Ignite guard grew significantly in his two years since joining the program, he averaged 17.6 points and 6.4 assists per game this past season.

Henderson's volume stood out for a 19-year old. During his first season with the Ignite, Henderson shared creation duties with Jaden Hardy and Dyson Daniels, among others. But in year two his responsibilities increased. He took it in stride, and his usage rate jumped up to 27.9% after being 23.3% the year prior.

Most mock drafts have the guard being picked either second or third overall. His speed with the ball is extremely impressive for someone of his age, and he pairs it with decent size at the lead ball handler position. He also had a terrific outing in his lone battle with top prospect Victor Wembanyama, scoring 28 points and dishing out nine assists. His draft stock has maintained since then.

Henderson's burst and playmaking stand out every single game. He can create shots for himself simply with his speed, blowing by defenders with and without the ball. Even when he just puts the defense in rotation, he creates an advantage for his team.

His passing is solid enough to capitalize on those advantages. His scoring is impressive. His outside shot was up and down, but he finished well inside the arc. That level of consistent shot creation is incredibly valuable at the NBA level.

Defensively, Henderson can stay in front of most guards with his speed, though his overall team defense and attention needs work. That's the case for many young players. His size for a point guard allows the Georgia native to match up with more than one position.

In terms of more specific skills, Henderson is a quality pick and roll ball handler. Because of his speed and control with the rock, opponents still have to be careful when leaving him space even though he isn't an elite shooter. That matters and changes the way he is covered, which opens up lanes on the floor.

He's also a smart cutter, especially for someone that has the ball as often as he does. Playing off of Daniels, Hardy, and Michael Foster Jr helped the youngster hone some off-ball skills.

In transition, on both offense and defense, Henderson is a weapon. That is typically the case for athletic players, but he combines it with vision that raises his game in the open floor to another level.

Near the rim, Henderson is a strong finisher, canning 63.5% of his shots in the restricted area. His mid range game needs work, as does his decision making with his floater. But he's terrific when he gets all the way to the rim.

His off-ball defense is perhaps his biggest weakness. Henderson gets caught watching the ball sometimes when away from the play, and he would benefit tremendously from better positioning. The spacing of the NBA game will be an adjustment for the youngster on the less glamorous end of the court.

All things considered, though, Henderson is very talented and has a ton of upside as a creator and offensive engine. He should be one of the first few picks of the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Indiana Pacers could have one of those picks. The Pacers currently have the seventh-best lottery odds and have just over a 29% chance of moving into the top-four of the draft order when the lottery takes place on Tuesday.

If the blue and gold get a pick between two and four, they will have to consider what Henderson brings to the table and if his upside is worth picking. They will have to think about their team construction going forward, too, because the Pacers already have Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard on their roster.

Henderson does have more off ball skills than public perception suggests. He showed those exact abilities in his first year with the Ignite, and his strengths in transition would fit well next to Haliburton. The Pacers All-Star point guard could fit with anyone given his play style, and Henderson would be a great complement to his skills.

But with Mathurin and Nembhard also in the mix, who also are effective with the ball, there is a lot to think about. Is it worth drafting Henderson and figuring out the fit questions later? His talent might be worth it. But a different player at a different position could be just as useful for the blue and gold and not reduce Mathurin and Nembhard's impact.

So while there is a lot that Scoot Henderson does well and may end up doing well in the NBA, his fit with Indiana may not be perfect. However, he is better off the ball than most realize. And his talent level may be so high that the Pacers, should they move up in the lottery, are willing to pick him anyway.

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